Heliomystis electrica

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Amphiesmenoptera
Ordo: Lepidoptera
Subordo: Glossata
Cladus: Coelolepida
Cladus: Myoglossata
Cladus: Neolepidoptera
Infraordo: Heteroneura
Cladus: Eulepidoptera
Cladus: Ditrysia
Cladus: Apoditrysia
Cladus: Obtectomera
Cladus: Macroheterocera
Superfamilia: Geometroidea

Familia: Geometridae
Subfamilia: Geometrinae
Tribus: Pseudoterpnini
Genus: Heliomystis
Species: Heliomystis electrica

Heliomystis is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Heliomystis electrica, the electric moth, is found in the southern half of Australia[1] (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania). Both the genus and species were first described by Edward Meyrick in 1888.[2]

The forewings are mottled shades of brown with black speckles and lines. These lines are usually stronger in females and diffuse whitish patches are present, particularly on the inner side of the postmedial line.

The larvae feed on Eucalyptus dives and Eucalyptus obliqua. They are green, often darker ventrally or sometimes dorsally, with a whitish spiracular line. The posture of the mature larvae is straight or slightly curved, with the thoracic legs held together and projecting from the body like a thorn from a stick.[3]
References

Herbison-Evans, Don & Crossley, Stella (26 April 2014). "Heliomystis electrica Meyrick, 1888 Electric Moth". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Savela, Markku. "Heliomystis Meyrick, 1888". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Pitkin, Linda M.; Han, Hongxiang; James, Shayleen (11 June 2007). "Moths of the tribe Pseudoterpnini (Geometridae: Geometrinae): a review of the genera" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 150 (2): 334–412. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00287.x. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012.